Transport of live animals by sea: New rules should improve safety for animals, seafarers and the environment
Revised rules on the transport of live animals by sea are being negotiated in the EU. Danish Shipping wants to ensure good animal welfare, seafarer safety and a level playing field for everyone transporting animals by sea in the EU.
EU Member States are making progress in negotiations on new rules for the transport of live animals. Danish Shipping welcomes this work but emphasises that better animal welfare must go hand in hand with higher safety standards at sea and a level playing field for EU- and non-EU-flagged ships.
The aim should be to improve animal welfare, prevent accidents, ensure fair competition and help raise international standards for the transport of live animals.
“Transporting live animals carries a particular responsibility. It therefore makes good sense to set high standards for both ships and their equipment. Our members already operate to high standards, and we now want these to apply much more widely across all ships transporting live animals to and from the EU. The same high safety standards must apply to all ships permitted to operate from European ports,” says Nina Porst, Executive Director of Sustainable Ships and Skills at Danish Shipping.
Three years on, the European Commission’s proposal for new rules on the transport of live animals is still under consideration in the European Parliament and the Council.
This will improve animal welfare and increase safety for the seafarers working on board
A 2025 study by the European Parliamentary Research Service highlights, among other things, persistent problems that may affect animal welfare. It also identifies challenges with enforcement and inspections in some Member States.
Together with European Shipowners, Danish Shipping has proposed strengthening the approval requirements for ships transporting live animals. A central demand is that all ships authorised to transport live animals from the EU should meet high and comparable standards for both the vessel itself and its arrangements for carrying animals, regardless of the flag they fly.
This is about both animal welfare and safety. If a ship is unsafe, animal welfare cannot be properly safeguarded either.
“Put simply, we are asking for non-EU-flagged ships to undergo the same survey and approval process as EU-flagged ships. This will improve animal welfare and increase safety for the seafarers working on board. Improving ship safety also means better protection for the environment. The new rules must ensure a level playing field for all operators,” says Nina Porst.
Where does the EU proposal stand?
December 2023: The Commission presents a proposal for a new regulation on the protection of animals during transport.
Council: Experts from EU Member States have been negotiating the text on an ongoing basis. The latest amendments are being considered by the Council’s working party on animal welfare.
European Parliament: The transport and agriculture committees are jointly considering the proposal.
Next steps: Once Parliament and the Council have established their negotiating positions, the two institutions and the Commission can begin trilogue negotiations on the final legislative text. This work is currently expected to begin in early 2027.